The Open Road

Volume 119 Established by MCRC Staff September/October 2019

Inside Stories Roads: Autumn Driving. . . . . . . . . 2 You Asked a Question . . . . . . . . . . 3 MCRC Contact Information . . . . . . 3 Safety Training/Benefits Fair . . . . . . 4 Mission Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

MCRC FALL/WINTER HOURS & HOLIDAYS

The Monroe County Road Commission will begin the fall/winter hours of Monday—Friday, 7:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m. effective Monday, October 7, 2019.

MCRC UPCOMING HOLIDAYS The MCRC will be closed: Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28th to observe

the Thanksgiving holiday.

MDOT CONTRACTS WITH FERROVIAL As of September 30, 2019, the Monroe County Road Commission (MCRC) is no longer under contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for maintenance and snow removal on state highways and trunklines in Monroe County. Effective October 1, 2019, Ferrovial Services became the contractor that will provide maintenance and snow removal on behalf of MDOT. Representatives from Ferrovial Services, MDOT and the MCRC recently met to discuss the final transition details in order to provide a smooth changeover for the motoring public and citizens of Monroe County. MDOT and Ferrovial will still be able to utilize 50% of two (2) of the chemical storage buildings (salt barns) for the next five (5) years that are located on MCRC property — the Monroe Yard located at Telegraph and Seventh Street, and the West District Yard located off Ida West Road on Tandem Court/Road Commission Drive. Dividing walls were constructed in both salt barns to accommodate use by the MCRC and MDOT/Ferrovial. An official letter was hand delivered to the Monroe County Sheriff Dept., Michigan State Police/Monroe Post, Central Dispatch and the City of Monroe Police Department; and emails were sent out to all townships, elected officials, newspapers, and outside resources on September 26, 2019 with the updated contact information. Please see below:

Effective October 1, 2019 any service requests, questions, problems or infrastructure concerns relating to state high-ways such as I-75, I-275, US-23, US-24, M-50, M-125 and Memorial Hwy (including pothole patching, snow and ice re-moval, guardrail installation and repair, mowing and other services) should be directed to MDOT Transportation Maintenance Coordinator Doug Lynch at (810-217-1739).

Roads & Travel: Autumn Driving

Autumn has arrived in Michigan, which means wonderful things like apples, pumpkins, beautiful foliage, and warm, comfy sweaters. For drivers, autumn also brings unique situations to the roads. Unpredictable weather, shorter days, back-to-school traffic, and increased movement of deer all create driving hazards. Here are a few Autumn driving safety tips:

Make adjustments for the light. Did you know that we lose a minute of daylight every day until the clocks are set back in November? Fewer hours of daylight make it more difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and children playing in the late afternoon. Also, later sunrises mean that drivers need to adjust to the brighter sun at different times of the morning. Always keep a pair of sunglasses in your car to shield your vision.

Avoid driving over wet leaves. Fall foliage is beautiful but once those leaves start falling and get wet from rain, they can become a serious driving hazard. Wet leaves are slippery and reduce traction.

Don’t Veer for Deer. If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, remember don’t swerve. Be sure to brake firmly and hold onto the steering wheel with both hands. Come to a controlled stop and move the vehicle out of traffic to a safe location.

Prepare an emergency kit for your car. Carrying an emergency kit in your car trunk or cargo area can be a real lifesaver. Be sure to include a flashlight, flares and a first-aid kit, jumper cables, extra washer fluid, nonperishable food, a jug of water, and a few basic tools such as wrenches, a ratchet/socket set, screwdrivers, and pliers.

Watch for frost. Low nighttime temperatures cause frost on wind-shields and roads. Be sure to clear your windshield completely before driving. Also, slow down when approaching bridges and overpasses, as these structures are more prone to collect frost on the roadway surface. Stay alert for shaded areas that could create black ice during early morning and evening hours.

Plan ahead for changing weather conditions. Have your car winter-ized before the winter storm season sets in. Keeping your car in good condition decreases your chance of being stranded in cold weather. Also, be sure to have a first-aid kit, thermal blanket, a working flashlight, a shovel and sand in your car.

Watch for construction work zones. Construction work zones may still be active. Consult

MDOT's Mi Drive traffic Web site to plan your route. Please remember to slow down and

pay attention in work zones. The life you save could be your own.

Contacting MCRC

If you need information about a road project or want to report a pothole, traffic signal problem or

other road concern, please call the MCRC at 734-240-5102, email us at

mcrc@mcrc-mi.org or visit us on the web at:

www.mcrc-mi.org

Board of Road Commissioners:

Paul Iacoangeli, Chairman Dan Minton, Vice Chairman

Charles Londo, Member Greg W. Stewart, Member Jack Thayer, P.E., Member

How can I prepare my mailbox for winter weather and snow removal?

With winter comes snow, and pushing snow can be a big threat to your mailbox! The best time to prepare your mailbox to survive the winter onslaught is before the first frost. Put this project at the head of your list or you might find yourself trying to install a new mailbox in subzero temperatures.

Step 1: Check Mailbox Location - the unit shall be placed at an offset from the edge of the pavement so that the roadside face of the mailbox is no closer than 3’ from the edge of the traveled lane.

Step 2: Bolster Your Mailbox Defenses - Every fall, make it a point to check the strength of the mailbox mount. The support structure (post) shall be either a wooden post (no larger than 4 inches x 4 inch square or 4 ½ inch diameter round) or a metal post with a strength no greater than a 2-inch diameter standard strength steel pipe (with a weight not in excess of 2.6 lbs. Per foot). No support structure shall be embedded more than 24 inches into the ground. A metal post shall not be fitted with an anchor plate, but it may have an anti-twist device that extends no more than 10 inches below the ground surface. Large posts of wood, concrete, or steel are not permitted because they could prove hazardous to motorists, thereby creating liability for homeowners. Mailbox supports shall not be set in concrete.

Step 3: Shovel Snow—Keep the area around the mailbox free of snow. Shovel snow at least 2 feet away from the mailbox in every direction. This will allow snow coming off the plow to have a place to go instead of bom-barding your mailbox. Shoveling to the sides and front of the box will also cut down on the amount of snow being forced back into that area.

You Asked a Question:...

MONROE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

840 S. Telegraph Road Monroe, Michigan 48161

734-240-5102 ■ 734-240-5101 (Fax) Website: www.mcrc-mi.org

Lobby hours - Monday through Thursday 6:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

MISSION STATEMENT: The Monroe County Road Commission vows to provide quality, courteous and dependable professional services through innovative, cost-effective ways to maintain our road system through transparency, trust and collaboration be-tween citizens, business and government.

MCRC Holds 3rd Annual Safety Training and Benefits Fair

On Wednesday, October 2nd, the MCRC held its 3rd Annual Safety Training and Benefits Fair in the maintenance building. The morning stated off with an informational meeting conducted by the United Way of Monroe. Employees were provided with an new safety shirts, an updated policy manual and changes to the drug and alcohol violation procedures, and Human Resource Director Camden Regis fielded questions from employees. Mike Phillips from the Michigan County Road Commission Self-Insurance Pool conduct-ed a safety training on stress management, truck basics and inspection. Employees were treated to a catered lunch followed by the Benefits Fair that featured a number of vendors such as Nationwide, Costco, Kroger (who administered flu shots), Go Mad Fitness, Brown & Brown, BCBSM, AFLAC, HelpNet, Family Counseling Center, Stevens Chiropractic, United Way, CompOne, Blu Water Spa, Great Lakes Vision, Monroe County Health Dept, Community Dental Centers, Social Security, Leski/Meemic Insurance, Directions Credit Union, Electrik Beach and XN Supplements.

“EXCELLENCE is never an accident.

It is the result of high intention, sincere effort,

intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.”